Process of treating mineral oils



Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF TREATING MINERAL OILS.

No Drawing.

My invention relates to a process of treating mineral oils and may be applied both to crude mineral oil and its by-products, such as topped mineral oils and residues, also the 5 distillates, such as kerosene, gasoline and the like, but is especially intended in the treatment of crude oil.

vMy invention has for its object to distill mineral oils and its products in the presence of a catal zer which is highly efiicient in converting t e heavier hydrocarbons to lighter hydrocarbons thus greatly increasing the yield of the lighter fractions. I have discovered that the addition of a small percentage of a metal hypochlorite to the mineral oil or the mineral oil product to be treated and subjecting the same to acracking temperature will yield lighter hydrocarbon fractions greatly in excess of those now in-use in the art.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the steps of the process hereinafter described and-claimed.-

The following is an example of a process carried out with Bakersfield, California, crude oil, which is of. very low gravity, running as low as 10 degrees gravity. I add thereto from 5 to 10 percent of a hypochlorite of a metal, such as aluminium, zinc, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron or copper, or a mixture of any two or more of them. The crude oil, before the addition of the metal hypochlorite, is preferably thbroughlydehydrated. If a small quantity of water remains in the oil a foaming or spitting will occur in the still, in which case it is recommended that paraflin or heavy paraflin oil he added, 3 to 10 percent being usually sufficient, depending upon the moisture present. In place of the pariflin or heavy paraffin oil, or in conjunction therewith, I may add from 10 to 40 percent of kerosene or distillate to the crude oil, for the same purpose, that is to prevent foamin of the heavy crude oil to be distilled. 0 course, it will be understood, however, that the addition of the paraffin or paraffin oil or kerosene or distillate is not necessary when the crude oil is thorou hly dehydrated.

e temperature used in cracking the oil- Application filed'October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,503.

from each other by the usual methods.

My process is applicable, not only to crude oils, topped crude oils, and still residues, but also to lighter hydrocarbons like kerosene and distillates to convert them into lighter-o5 fractions for the production of motor fuel.

Of the hypochlorites mentioned I prefer to use an aluminium hypochlorite as being the most eflicient. However, in mineral oils high in sulphur contents I have found iron and copper hypochlorites are especially suitable for combining with the sulphur compounds .and causing themto remain in the residue, the sulphur being converted into metal sulphatesvvhi'ch remain in the still.

IIn the example given I have used as much as 10 percent metal hypochlorite with heavy Bakersfield oil.- It will be understood that with lighter mineral oils, such as Colorado oils, as little as 2 percent will be sulficient.

Various changes may be made, by those skilled in the art, in the steps of the process as claimed.

I claim:

1. The process of treating mineral oils and their products comprising adding a metal hypochlorite in dry form thereto and subjecting the same to a cracking temperature to lncrease the lighter fractions by splitting up theheavier molecules of the mineral oil or product. f

2. A process of treating 'mineral oils and their products comprising treating the same with aluminium hypochlorite in dry form and subjecting the same to a cracking temperature to increase the lighter fractions thereof by splitting up the heavier molecules of the mineral oil or product.

3. A process of treating mineral oils and I their products comprising adding from 2 to 10 percent of a metal hypochlorite in dry form and subjecting the same to a cracking temperature to increase the lighter fractions ture from 230 to 650 degrees F. to increase thereof by splitting up the heavier molecules the lighter fractions thereof by splitting up of the mineral oil or product. the heavier molecules of the mineral oil or 1 4:. A process of treating mineral oils and product. 5 their products comprising adding from 2 to In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 percent of aluminium hypochlorite and name to this specification. subjecting thesame to a cracking t/empera- HENRY BLUMENBERG, JR. 

